Burying Hatchets
January 24, 2008
On the first official visit by a Greek leader to Turkey in nearly half a century, the countries' prime ministers promised a fresh start on long-standing disputes like control of Cyprus and a closed Greek seminary.
Both Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis of Greek and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed after their historic meeting in Ankara on Wednesday, Jan. 23, that they were willing to work together.
"We are prepared to leave the problems of the past behind us," Erdogan told reporters.
In a symbolic gesture of reconciliation, Karamanlis laid a wreath at the tomb of Turkey's national founder and hero Mustafa Kremel Ataturk, whose forces defeated invading Greek troop in the 1920s.
Though the countries nearly went to war again in 1997 over a territorial dispute in the Aegean Sea, relations have been steadily improving over the last decade. According to Greek figures, bilateral trade in 2007 was up to $2.8 billion (1.9 billion euros) from $200 million in 1995.
Greece backs Turkey's EU bid
While no ground-breaking agreements were reached Wednesday, Karamanlis reaffirmed Greece's support for Turkey's membership bid to the European Union. Greece joined the bloc in 1981 while Turkey continues accession negotiations.
"Provided Turkey continues on the reform path and meets the criteria, [...] Europe must accept it as a full member of the European family," said Karamanlis.
He also urged Erdogan to reopen a Greek Orthodox seminary, which was closed by the Turkish government in 1972, saying it could aid the country in joining the EU.
Resolving the Cyprus issue is also key to Turkey's goal of EU membership, the Greek prime minister added. While Ankara supports the breakaway Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus, the EU recognizes the Greek Cypriot government as the legitimate authority.
Erdogan said a new wave of diplomatic efforts should begin following elections in Cyprus, an EU member state, later this year.
Last official meeting in 1959
Karamanlis is scheduled to meet Turkish President Abdullah Gül on Thursday before going to Istanbul for a meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I and a Greek-Turkish business forum.
His uncle Konstantinos was the last Greek prime minister to pay an official visit to Turkey.